Giving money to a homeless person, some always do it, others never and some sometimes. According to Van de Groep, we are more likely to give something if we “feel connected to someone, if someone deserves it or if someone really needs our help.” The environment also plays a role. “If the sun makes you feel happy or cheerful, that contributes to whether you want to give something to someone else.”
So the brain and internal processes take stock. “We see that the reward area of the brain plays an important role. And that it is also experienced as rewarding when you give something to someone else,” explains Van de Groep. Dopamine is released when we give something to a homeless person.
Empathy
Taking the other person’s perspective is also important in your decision-making. “It helps if you can empathize with someone else and sympathize with them. Then you are more willing to give something.”
But what stops someone from giving something? “If you think the money is not being spent well, you are not sure whether the person will do something good with it, because you are short on cash or you are not feeling well,” Van de Groep sums up.
